Reading: Hebrews 5-7
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an high priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee. As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec(Heb. 5:1-6).
Aaron, the first high priest of the Israelites, did not volunteer for the job, nor was he selected by the people. Instead, he was chosen by God. On the Day of Atonement, God directed him to make penance, first for his sins and then for the sins of his household. Only after doing so would he be qualified to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people (Lev. 16:11-15). This same scenario played out with every high priest serving from that time until the time of Christ.
Under the priesthood of Aaron and his descendants, sacrifice was made when a sinless animal took the place of an Israelite and was slain as payment for his sin. Thus, the devout Jew was continually reminded: For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (17:11).
When Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, took His place as the last and eternal High Priest, the blood price for sin was paid in full. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him (Heb. 5:9). Christ’s work on the cross assured that no further sacrifice will ever need to be made or be able to be made. Unless we accept the sacrifice He made in our stead, there can be no forgiveness of our sins.
God is holy; therefore, He must enforce the penalty for sin. God loves us, however, and His justice is tempered with mercy and an offer of grace. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23). How thankful we should be that mercy is an attribute of God, for it is one of our greatest daily needs. Mercy expresses His willingness to forgive sinners and deliver them from eternal hell. Mercy is His practical demonstration of love and compassion. Under the Levitical priesthood, the Lord’s mercy was praised. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation (Ex. 34:6-7). How much more we can be assured of God's mercy through Christ, our exalted Lord, as He makes intercession for us (Heb. 7:25; 9:24)!
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved(John 3:17).
Thought For TodayThere is no one alive without a desperate need for God’s mercy; fortunately for us, His only requirement is that we ask for it.
Word Studies6:17 immutability of His counsel = His purpose will not be altered.
Cross Reference:For Heb. 5:5: See Ps. 2:7. Heb. 5:6: See Ps. 110:4. Heb. 6:14: See Gen. 22:17.
Pray For Staff:Judy McCrary • Government Official: Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ),Rep.Jamie Raskin (MD), Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA) • Country: Liberia (4,902,310) West Africa • Major Languages: English and more than 20 local languages of the Niger-Congo language group • Religious Freedom • 85.6% Christian; 12.2% Muslim; 0.6% Traditional; 0.2% Other; 1.4% None • Prayer Suggestion: Pray persistently (Is. 62:6).